ARTIST STATEMENT: In my work as an artist I explore human concerns through mixed media sculptures and performance art. Individual characters are placed in fantasy environments that speak to the sub-conscious. As in any dream-like scenario, the image goes beyond the literal to evoke the human psyche. The environment is both a reflection of the inner world and the structure that shapes it. In this way the lines between the individual and their context are blurred. These inner/outer boxes are often limiting. They are a reflection of some of the darker aspects of society. Although the work is symbolic, the concepts are not meant to be cerebral. A poetic sensibility, the psychology of body language and the context of the characters are aimed at evoking a personal and emotional reaction to the work. The viewer is encouraged to project into the life of the inanimate whether it is mask, puppet or sculpture and to identify with the plight of the individual in their surroundings. The mixture of psychology, context and symbolism create the landscape that forms my work. It is expressed through a visual narrative that looks deceptively naïve and playful but often hides a more complex vision. In creating stories I attempt to look across time and culture and bring to life a personal mythology that includes the problems of the modern world. I am fascinated by the duality that holds both the intricate nature of the human soul and the problems of modern times. At the core I believe my work is trying to reconcile the beauty of the human spirit with the cruelty, greed and blindness of contemporary culture.